Controller for mechanical musical instruments.



PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

J, W. SUTTON. CONTROLLER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 I IIIII ill dad/v.1

wvl/vwaoco 10 PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

' J. W. SUTTON.

CONTROLLER FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAR.15. 1906.

Eng

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q swat v65 IINITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SUTTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

To all whom it may concern.-

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this'invention is to furnish a tempi-controlling device for piano-players and automatic pianos by which the different tempi of the piece of music to be played, and thereby the expression can be controlled in a simple and effective manner, so that the music can be played by persons but little versed in music in keeping with the intention of the composer.

In many constructions of piano-players and automatic pianos the tracker board and the perforated music-sheet passing over the same are arranged in such a manner that it is impossible to arrange a tempi-controlling device in proximity thereto so as to follow the so-called tempo-lines on the perforated music-sheet, while many of the: automatic pianos are constructed in such a manner that the perforated music-sheet is arranged in the upper part of the piano-case at some distancefrom the place on the keyboard where the usual levers for controlling the expression, tempi, etc., are arranged. In order to accommodate such piano-players and auto matic pianos and similar mechanical musical instruments with a tempi-controlling device by which the piece can be played with the tempi arranged for the piece of music by the composer, the handle 0 the tempo-lever is provided with a pointer and with a shiftable tempo-scale adjacent to the ointer, said tempo-scale being provided wit tapering indicating-points of different lengths extending at both sides of the center-line of the tempo-scale and corresponding to the different tempi, and permitting the shifting of the *pointer and controller-lever in connection With-correspondingly shaped tempi-indicating marksor oints arranged on the perforated music-s eet, in line with the centerline of the indicating-points on the tempo scale, so as to permit the convenient following by the tempo-lever and pointer of the tempi-marks on the music-sheet along the indicating-points of the tempo-scale, so that the prescribed tempi of the piece of music are controlled in playing it on the instrument.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

.A li ti fil d March 15,1906. Serial No. 306,107.

roll.

Patented May 28, 1907.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a mechanical piano-player, showing the mechanism for moving the perforated musicsheet over the tracker, with the improved tempi-controlling device arranged in front of the same, Fig. 2 is a detail front-elevation of the tempo-lever and tempo-scale, Fig. 3 is a temposcale arranged bel w the tempo-lever and showing the different tempi marked thereon, Fig. 4 is a portion of a perforated music-sheet showing the tempi-indicating marks on the same, Fig. 5 is a plan-view of Fig- 2, and Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on line 66, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corres ending parts in the different figures of the rawmg.

Referring to the drawing, a represents the tempo-lever of an Angelus" or similar piano-player, and b the perforated musicsheet in position as it passes from the musicroll over the tracker-board to the windingup The perforated music-sheet l) is provided, preferably at the right-hand side, with a number of wedge-shaped imlicatingnnarks b the bases of which are arranged in a straight line on the music-sheet by being printed or otherwise marked thereon, said "indicating-marks being made of different sizes and lengths, and projecting to the left or right of the straight line, according to the different tempi used by musicians in playing a piece of music. There are preferably siX different sizes of indicating-marks extending from a common center-line toward the left and six extending from said line toward the right, and corresponding to the tempi between largo and presto, as indicated on the tempo-plate p, shown in Fig. 3. By the indicating-marks b, which become visible as the perforated musi.csheet moves over the tracker-board, whether .t be arranged near the usual controlling-levers of a pianoplayer, or whether it be located in the upper part of the case of an automatic piano, the tempi can be controlled. The tcmpi imlieating marks b1 are printed on the perforated musicsheet 0 at the same time as the words, abbreviations, forte-line, etc, are printed on the same. The mechanical musical instrument is provided with the usual controlling-levers, of which the tempo-lever e provided with an adjustable pointer a that is applied by means of a set-screw a to the same. The tempo-plate p is arranged, as shown in Fig.

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'1, in such a manner below the controlling lever a that the lever may be readily moved over the same for varying the tempi of the piecefof music to be played. Adjacent to the pointer a is arranged an upri ht shiftable tempo-scale e, which is guided by a igruide-piece e of inverted U-shape, on the ame of the instrument, and held in position by the "friction of a flat spring f which is attached at the opposite end to the frame, as

, shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Ont-he tempo-scale el vertical linesare run from the ends of the barsle 'on the tempo-scale e to the lower edge of the latter. When-the music is played, the

eye-sot the playerfollows the direction and size of the in icatin -marks on the musicsheet, While the hand holding the tempo-1ever'follows simultaneously with the pointer the' direction and size of the indicating-bars on the tempo-scale 0 toward the left or right.

Int-his manner the tempi prescribed by the tempi of the indicating-marks-on the music-sheet are 01- lowed,-whatever be the position of the musicsheet relatively toithe tempo-lever by which thew-speed of the. motor, and thereby the piece of music to be played, are controlled. 4 ithis manner a very convenientdevice for controlling the tempiwof the piece of music is obtained, which can be applied-to any mechanical-musical instrument regardless the osition ofthe perforate the same. c Every perforated music-sheet is printed with the tempo in which it is to be played and the tempo-lever is set at the line on the tempolate 1) which corresponds with the prescri ed tempo. The distance of the center or base-line drawn through the widest portions or bases of the ter'npi-indikzating marks on the music-sheet, from the edge of the same, will vary-according to the normal standard tempo in which the composition is written and therefore the median line of the tempo-scale 6 must be adjustedto coincide or to be in alinement with the base-line on the music-sheet. The base-line on the musicsheet, whatever be the prescribed standard tempo, will correspond or be alined with the prescribed tempo-symbol or indicating-mark on thetempo-plate p, whereby the center or median line of the shiftable tempo-s. ale will also be in alincnient with'such tempo-symbol or indicating mark on the tempo-plate. The

center-line of the teffipo scale e is placed in line with the base-line of the marks 6 by shifting the tempo-scale 6 either to the right or left, as required. The motor is then started and the music-sheet moved over the tracker-board. The player-follows, with the tempi-marks on the music-sheet, by his eyes and moves simultaneously the pointer over the indicating-points of the tempo-scale and thereby the tempo-lever, so that the speed of the motor and thereby the tempi are controlled. Thus even an inexperienced player can play the piece of music as prescribed by the'composer. The device can be used on any mechanical piano-player by adapting the tempo-scale to the instrument and making the tempi-indicating points of the proper size for the scale. of the same. i After some practice, the player can follow with the pointer and tempi-lever the tempi-marks on.

the music-sheet without using the temposcale as the hand follows almost intuitively the size and direction of the tempimarks on the sheet as they are moved over the tracker without using-the points on the tempo-scale. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

- l.' In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a music-sheet provided with a number of tempo-indicating marks extending laterally in opposite directions from a straight base-line and differing in size, of a tempo-lever carrying a pointer, and a tempo-scale over which said pointer is movable and provided with a center-line corresponding to the base-line on the musicsheet and with indicating-marksextending laterally to either side of said center-line and corres onding to those on the music-sheet. 2. n a mechanical musical instrument,

I g 'the combination, with a tempo-lever and music-sheet and t e driving mechanism 'for.

connections to control the s eed of the musicsheet, of a pointer carried y said lever, and a laterally-shiftable tempo-scale over which said pointer is movable. i

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, in combination, a tempo-lever and connections to control the speed of the music-sheet, a pointer carried by said lever, and a laterallyshiftable tempo-scale provided witha vertical center-line to register withsaid pointer and with indicating e marks of diflerent lengths extending laterally from said line to either side'thereof.

4. In a mechanical-musical instrument, in combination, a tempo-lever, a tempo-plate having indicating-marks over which said lever is movable, a pointer carried by said le-' ver, and a laterallyshiftable tempo-scale over which said pointer is movable.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of aperforated music-sheet provided with a number of tempi;indicating marks arranged in aline atone side oi'the same, a tempo-lever controlling the speed of rzo the -music-sheet, ajpointer applied to said controlling-lever, a shiftable tempi-scale ar- I' &I1%Bd &d]fl06llt to the pointer and provided Wit a number of-indicating marks extending'syrnmetrically from the center-line and corresponding in size and direction to the tempi-indicatl marks on the music-sheet, and means for guiding and retaining the tempo-scale;

6. 'In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a perforated music-sheet provided with-tempi1ndicating marks along one side of the same, a'tempoplate having divisionlines indicating the di erent tempi, a tempo-lever extending o'ver said plate, a pointer applied to the temp0-lever,'and an JOHN W..SUTTON.

Witnesses.

PA L GoEPEL, HENRY J. SUHRBIER. 

